Constantine archbishop of Methymna (eleventh century)

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin with hands held palm outward before her. On either side the sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

ΚΝΕΛΕΘΥΑΡΧΙΕΠ,ΚΟΠ,ΜΗΘΥΜΝ, 

Κωνσταντῖνος ἐλέῳ Θεοῦ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Μηθύμνης

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin with hands held palm outward before her. On either side the sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

ΚΝΕΛΕΘΥΑΡΧΙΕΠ,ΚΟΠ,ΜΗΘΥΜΝ, 

Κωνσταντῖνος ἐλέῳ Θεοῦ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Μηθύμνης

Accession number

BZS.1955.1.4706

Diameter

20.0 mm

Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 52.1a.

Translation

Κωνσταντῖνος ἐλέῳ Θεοῦ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Μηθύμνης.

Constantine by the mercy of God, archbishop of Methymna.

Commentary

Methymna (Molybos), the second most important city of the island of Lesbos, is listed in the notitiae as an archbishopric; some time between 1072 (REB 18 [1960] 57) and 1084/1085 (ibid., 68), it was raised to the rank of metropolis, probably close to 1080. See Laurent, Corpus V/1, 622, 646; Fedalto, 213-15; Malamut, Iles, 232, 275, 356, 370.